Final: Ducks 5, Predators 1

ANAHEIM -- Before any hint of a losing streak took root, Kyle Palmieri and the Ducks took out whatever lingering frustration they had from Monday night on the surprisingly overwhelmed Nashville Predators.

Two nights after their six-game winning streak ended against the Kings, the Ducks steamrolled to a 5-1 victory on Wednesday night at Honda Center behind Palmieri's first career hat trick.

The Ducks (14-3-1) responded to their second loss in 12 games by building a 3-0 first-period and ending goalie Pekka Rinne's night after 40 minutes. Palmieri was the star as he finished off plays created by linemates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

After Nick Bonino turned Rinne's turnover created by Emerson Etem into an open-net goal just 2:48 in, Palmieri started his flourish by getting the puck from Perry with speed and racing around Nashville's Shea Weber to beat Rinne.

Palmieri then found some open space in front of Rinne at 16:57 of the first to bury a pass from Perry after Getzlaf won an offensive-zone faceoff.

His natural hat trick was completed at 1:07 of the second when he cashed in another feed from Perry for a power-play goal and a 4-0 lead. At 22 years and 26 days, Palmieri became the second youngest Ducks player to score three times in a game.

With Bonino and Palmieri scoring, the balanced and deep Ducks now have nine players with at least five goals. Palmieri took over the goal scoring lead with seven.

The Ducks, who pushed their Pacific Division lead to seven points over Dallas, continued on with the rout. Saku Koivu got their second power-play goal and eighth in the last four games later in the second to answer Craig Smith's score for the Predators.

It was also the sixth natural hat trick in franchise history, the last accomplished by Andrew Cogliano on Jan. 31, 2012.

Viktor Fasth made 20 saves for the Ducks, who took all three games of this year's series with Nashville.